Chinese people running through crowded streets. One woman asks a girl if she has breastmilk. She nods and accepts the child. The girl was apparently asked for.
A horse clip-clopping and chortling (they always are). People are running into their hovels. God, the smell must have been unbearable. Some dude riding the horse without a saddle. Urchins watch him from behind carts. The Chinese girl approaches the dude. He asks if she can tell fortunes and gives her a red baggie with some red powder.
The Chinese girl takes the powder in her hand and mumbles a prayer over it. She blows the powder into the horse's nostrils. Urchins comment it's magic so the horse wins a race. Everyone is still staring. The Chinese people bow and run off. The dude announces to the street that the horse's name is "Monaghan Boy" and that it will be racing in Kempton, Monday, 3 o'clock.
Birmingham, 1919. The dude rides on towards a factory. We hear a street preacher. Everything is dirty. It's total filth everywhere, smoke, noise, open flames. Cops tip their hats to the dude and call him Mr. Shelby. He doesn't react at all.
We see Mr. Shelby going across the street. Some lady is futilely trying to sweep the sidewalk. He enters a house. A boy is there and throws something towards the fire. Cigarette. The boy says someone is mad as hell. Mr. Shelby asks what does a 10-year-old know about hell. He says he's even 11 Sunday.
Mr. Shelby enters a noisy bar where people are busy betting. It's a big operation. Coins and slips everywhere. We learn Mr. Shelby's name is Tommy. Some elderly man angrily calls Tommy over. Uh-oh. He calls him to his dingy office. God, the stench must have been unbearable. The old man calls Tommy out for the powder trick.
The old guy starts drinking and slams his fist against the table. "NO CHINESE!" Tommy is calm and in full control of his voice. The old guy asks Tommy if he has permission to be fixing races from Billy Kimbert. Arthur says Billy has a bloody army. Tommy says he thinks because it's what he does and so Arthur doesn't have to.
Arthur says there's a note from Belfast and says he's calling the family council tonight because there's trouble coming. Another old dude on the train. It's Sam Neill, my favorite actor! He has a package reading TOP SECRET and opens it in plain view. All right... It says "Special branch, BSA munitions robbery: prime suspects".
The file says Arthur Shelby is a gangster, racketeer and does illegal bookmaking. He leads a gang called Peaky Blinders. Another file lists some details about Tommy. Racketeering, protection, armed robbery. He did receive an army award: King's Medal for Gallantry.
A bunch of guys clapping. The guy they were clapping to asks them to shut up and gives them a speech. They are there to vote for a strike. He talks about the horrors of The Great War and how they are now destitute while the fat cats are sitting rich.
Freddie Thorne. Communist agitator, bolshevik. He's a friend of Tommy? Sam Neill leans back and closes his eyes. We see Tommy enter a pub. Damn, it is DIRTY. People turn around to look at him when he enters. The bartender greets him cordially and gives him a drink. The agitator rises up from his table and stands next to Tommy, who ignores him, and takes a coin off of what Tommy paid for his drink.
Tommy's cap has razor blades stitched into it. Freddie talks about Winston Churchill himself sending messages about a robbery of national significance. There was a list of names, including their names. Tommy says the only difference between them is that Tommy's horse stands a chance of winning. Freddie says he wishes he let Tommy take that bullet in France.
A guy runs in and starts smashing things. Freddie and Tommy tackle him and calm him down. A veteran in tatters. Danny doesn't realize he's done it again. He apologizes. The bartender, Harry, complains about the ruckus. Freddie says Danny might need to get a bullet but so should Freddie. Tommy walks out and asks for the bill for damage. Sam Neill walks off the train.
A guy walks down an alley and a lady, aunt Pol, puts a gun to his face. She says Finn found the loaded gun and slaps him. He says he was drunk and apologizes. She says having four kids without a woman is hard but her boot is harder.
The family council. Arthur hands out leaflets from Belfast that recruit protestant Irishmen to come to Birmingham and clear out the IRA. Tommy already knows about it. Arthur takes a swig. The chief inspector is coming in to clear out all of them. The young guy is nervous. Aunt Pol asks Tommy if he has anything else to say. He says no. She says this was always woman's business; he says the boys have now come home.
We see a Jamaican (?!) doomsday preacher on the street. Sam Neill is riding in a car. The filth is unbelievable. People plowing and brawling each other in the streets. Aunt Pol is in a church with a rosary. Tommy comes in and sits in a pew behind her. She wants an explanation. Aunt Pol says detectives have been asking questions around the factory.
Tommy talks about a routine job gone awry. He wanted to steal 4 motorbikes but his guys got drunk and stole:
Tommy says they put the guns in the stables. Aunt Pol hits him repeatedly and says he could hang. She says this could blow over if he dumps the guns tonight. He says Charlie won't move contraband under a full moon; three days until it wanes.
She walks down to the pier and meets Freddie. She has tickets for a movie but he isn't in the mood. She doesn't want to do it there; she got muddy the last time. He promises to tell everyone about their relationship. She relates the news from the family council. Her name is Ada.
He asks for a kiss and gets it. Wow, that was easy. He slobbers all over her face. Another lady walks down the street. Damn, it's FILTHY. She enters the pub and asks for a job as a barmaid. Harry asks if she is mad. I like how she says "adver-this-ment". Harry wants to shoo her away. She is desperate and her voice quakes. He says she is too nice and too pretty.
She pulls out a list of references. She worked in Galway. He says she is too pretty. She takes a bucket and starts singing. She would swim over the deepest ocean to find her boy etc. Harry is stunned. Cops in a station playing pool and throwing darts. Sam Neill walks in. They all stand up and go still. He talks about discarded babies.
Girls, 11 years old, being punctured by old men etc. Pails of wounds and rotten flesh. He says Peaky Blinders is a merciless gang and they are worse than them. He stands at the lectern and curses them. He calls communists maggots that feed on the degradation and the puss. They are their enemies. Reminiscent of a doomsday church sermon.
Sam Neill says he doesn't trust any of them until they earn it. New men enter. Cops look at one another. There's like 13 of them. Sam Neill says they are the God-fearing cops. Arthur enters the cinema with two ladies. The cinema is empty and he asks for a blowjob before the others enter. Cops swarm in and grab him. He seem Arthur being beaten and interrogated.
Sam Neill enters and punches him straight in the face. Arthur calls him a bastard. Sam says he's only interested in the truth and asks about the robbery. Arthur knows nothing so Sam goes Jack Bauer on him and breaks his finger. Sam says he can sniff the "aaaaar" and know if an animal like Arthur is lying.
Sam threatens Arthur and his family being face down in the canal by year's end and then offers a helping hand. We don't see what he said. Harry's pub is packed. The barmaid is wondering what's going on. Football match at St. Andrews. It's Birmingham City F.C., founded in 1906. Tommy appears and asks for a bottle of rum. Harry tells Grace it's on the house. He asks if she is a whore and she is offended.
Harry tells her that customers that get stuff on the house can have any girl they want but Tommy isn't like that and hasn't been eager for a woman since he came back from France. Arthur came home. They are cleaning him up. Tommy walks in with rum and cleans him. Arthur says Mr. Churchill sent him to Birmingham.
Sam offered Arthur that Peaky Blinders can be his eyes and ears. Arthur said he will vote on it with his family. Grace singing. Everyone's listening and then joins in. A solemn moment. Tommy walks in. Freddie is plowing Ada. They chat. He says he will be with Tommy on the same side one day.
We see a ritual of making some wax or something. Oh, it's a crack pipe? Tommy smokes some and lays down, exhaling loudly. He has nightmares of war. He wakes up. Whew, lad, that was intense. Outside, he sees two coppers walking. The new day. Danny is again losing his mind in the public. Poor guy. One store owner is shooing him away and pulls out a switchblade. Danny thinks it's a bayonet and stabs the owner.
Sam gets patted down before entering a train car. He is introduced to the Secretary of State as chief inspector Campbell. Churchill?! He compliments his hat. Campbell says he set up a command network. Churchill asks who he thinks stole the guns. Campbell says he will find them, no matter who they are. Churchil says this is England, not Belfast, and that any bodies must be buried deep, not wash up on shores.
The boxes of ammo are being moved. The plan is to leave them on the bank. Tommy changed his mind. The guy says he's lost his mind. Tommy says they will have to pay for their guns. The guy, Pete, says this copper takes no prisoners. Campbell meets with Grace, who reports she is in position. They discuss the happenings.
Grace seems to grow emotionally attached to the gang. She says the guns were taken by the IRA. He says her personal history is clouding her judgment. The IRA killed her father but she says that won't affect her. He gives her the list of serial numbers of guns that were stolen. He says he worked with her father and he would be proud of her.
Tommy and Danny walk to two brothers of the killed man. Tommy must stop the war from breaking out and will dispatch him personally. Why? Danny says he died there anyway. Tommy asks for his last request. Danny asks for apprenticeships for his family at the factory and not to be buried where there's mud. A boat docks.
Tommy shakes his hand and calls him a good soldier. He takes out a gun and shoots Danny in the back of the head. Danny falls into the boat dead and it sails off. Tommy comes back to his office and hears Arthur shouting for him. Monaghan Boy won. The entire city will bet on the magic horse and it will win just enough times for everyone to go all in; the horse will then lose.
Danny rises up from the boat and wipes his hands. He is still in shock. His head hurts. The shell was full of sheep brains and hurt a lot. He's going to London on Tommy's assignment. Aunt Pol asks Tommy if he did the right thing; he says yes. Wow, she should have asked WHAT he did. He walks out and sees Grace. It's snowing.
A montage of dudes driving in a car down the road interspersed with a boy washing a white horse. They park next to a river, Tommy comes out. He looks at the thorse and checks its shoes. The guy who welcomed him, Johnny, checks the car. The rest of the Shelby family complains. Tommy tells them to toss coins. Arthur complains. Tommy sees three guys laughing and takes offense.
Johnny intervenes and speaks Gypsy, saying Tommy's dad was a King (roma). One of the guys says his mom was a whore. Tommy sees red, takes off his cap and slashes that guy on the face. Arthur and the rest of the Shelby family jumps in and a scuffle erupts. A lot of slo-mo fighting against the Lee boys.
Campbell takes down a squad of cops on horses and foot down a street. Damn, it's dirty. They take positions in front of doors. Campbell gives the signal and they start taking people out and beating them. Children cower. Freddie is plowing Ada when someone knocks. The voice says communists are being rounded up. He and Ada flee to the roof.
The cops ransack everything. Damn, those hovels are dirty. The two jump off the side of the roof. A cop finds a prescription of Ada Shelby in Freddie's apartment. He knocks on the door and asks for a safe haven for Ada. He gets it and runs off. Meanwhile, people are being beaten in the streets. Aunt Pol is lining up candles in the church when Campbell enters and puts out his pipe at her behest.
They chat. She is lighting candles for people who died in France. She accuses him of not going to the front. He says he's heard of her and enters the altar section. He says he's looking for something stolen and pushes her against the wall. She spits him. He returns to the altar and opens the side door. Cops swarm in and start ransacking. He storms out, saying he wants to see Thomas Friday.
The Shelby family comes back and sees the chaos. Aunt Pol says the cops told the people it's the Peaky Blinders who let them do the raid and intentionally left the city to go the fair for it. They smashed up pubs that were under Peaky Blinders' protection. Tommy tells the gang to give some cash to the pub owners'.
Aunt Pol says the gang to show their faces. She talks to Tommy in private and says the odds are 3/1 (25%) that there will be a revolution. She says Campbell is betting on it and won't let it rest until the guns are returned. He asks where she talked to Campbell and about Ada. She tries to evade and changes the subject.
He says he won't meet with Campbell because you can't parlay when on the backfoot. He needs to strike back first. People are bringing in their pictures of the King and create a bonfire. Everyone is cheering. It's George V? Seems like it. A reporter comes in and offers his business card to a gangster.
The reporter asks if he's being protected. Tommy tells him to write down that they walked through the flames of hell. These new coppers from Belfast interfere with their women and they won't let their King see it. He says he's an ordinary man who won a Gallantry Medal at the Somme. The reporter scurries off.
Campbell receives a phone call from London. It's Churchill. Campbell gets up, takes a swig and picks the phone up. He's received news of a bonfire and the information pictures of the King were burned. Campbell promises to go there and arrest people. Churchill says arrests will lead to court trials and then more publicity, which is to be avoided at all costs. He growls at Campbell, saying results must be produced forthwith.
Churchill mentions Thomas Shelby was the one who gave a statement. Aunt Pol talks to Ada, who invents a story about being in bed all day long. She's not buying it. Ada asks what's in the newspapers. Aunt Pol retells it and asks her to stand up and grabs her breast. Ada is one week late. FIVE weeks, seven if you count weekends. She asks for some tablets.
Uh-oh, we'll see an abortion scene? Luckily, not. She had a gyno exam. Aunt Pol wants her to get rid of it but she won't do it and wants to scream. Aunt Pol asks whose is it. Ada starts sniveling and says the guy will come back. Tommy gets his horse. Charlie pulls out a bullet with "Tommy" etched on it and says he's passing it on. It's a declaration of war from the Lee clan. Charlie is his uncle.
Tommy is riding the horse and it gets freaked out by the factory's flames. Tommy rides off and talks to it. He says you get used to it. Grace is watching him. Oh, now I understand the idea of "Horse Whisperer". Grace nearly splashes water on him and asks for the horse's name (he doesn't have one). She proposes one night a week where she could sing.
He says she sounds like one of those rich girls that come from Dublin. He offers her earning some extra money being taken to the races. The gang is tallying up their money from the bets. A ton of coins, there must be at least 20 pounds.
Everyone is here for Monaghan Boy. Aunt Pol wants to see Tommy. She says something but we don't hear what (we know what it is). At the movies, Ada is watching black and white silent's. Tommy barges in and she gasps. He sits next to her and ask's for the man's name. She says Rudolph Valentino. He storms out. The lights come on and Tommy barges in before shooing away the moviegoers. She says Freddie Thorne.
She dares Tommy to cut him up. Ada yells to put the film back on. Wow. Monaghan Boy lost. Aunt Pol is pissed because Tommy fixed the race without the permission of Billy Kimber. She smashes a glass on the floor. She ran this business for 5 years. Pissy woman. Feels like nobody told her she's a side character. Tommy asks about Ada. He needs to know. Aunt Pol takes out a letter from Ada and gives it to Tommy to give to Freddie (?).
Tommy tosses the letter in the stove. Aunt Pol picks up the poker and swings but drops it and storms out. Wow. Tommy screams she knows he's right. Ada is miserable and can't sleep. Aunt Pol says the longer she leaves it, the worse it gets. Believe her, she knows. She was 16 and didn't dare tell anyone. She did it herself and the guy didn't come back. They never do. She says Ada will be thankful one day.
They will travel to a woman in Cardiff tomorrow and go to the castle after for a treat. Ada is holding back tears. Wow. Campbell is in a public tea room. Tommy walks in. It's neutral ground. Tommy wants them to understand each other. He wants to make his business run successfully. Campbell indicates they are on the same side. Tommy agrees they could be.
Campbell shows a slip with Ada's name on it and asks if Tommy is in bed with the communists too. Tommy says no and that he'll make Freddie a part of their deal. Campbell asks what deal. Tommy says Campbell will turn a blind eye to Tommy's operation, who will join forces with Billy Kimber and ask for Campbell to put in a good word to the Gloucestershire chief of police. Campbell can't stomach a single word of this proposal, I can sense it.
Campbell asks for a pen to write it down. What does he get in return? Tommy says he has what he's looking for. He has the guns. Campbell asks what guns and Tommy gets up. Campbell stops him and Tommy sits again, listing the guns and saying he will sell them to the IRA, with each gun being marked so Churchill knows who sold them. Tommy says he will let Campbell get a medal if he lets him spread out his business.
Campbell takes a moment to think and breathes heavily. He is distraught and on the verge of snapping. Campbell agrees and would rather not shake hands on it. Tommy gets up and approaches him, saying he would never shae a hand of a man who wouldn't fight for his country. Opera. Campbell is there, watching it but seems unfocused. Grace enters his department. He says he has new information.
Tommy is now the entirety of her mission. We see Tommy smoking more crack. She asks for instructions. He says it hurts him to send her there but she must do whatever she can to get close to him and find out where the guns are. She seems pissed for being sold short. He gives her a gun wrapped in newspapers.
Campbell says she's now in a military operation on behalf of the Crown. She says that's what she trained for. He says his heart is with her. Wow. He sees her as his daughter? Tommy again dreams of slaying people in French trenches. He sits bolt upright. In the opera, a guy got slain. Some dude runs through the rain with a lantern. He is waking up Tommy and calls him down.
They run to the horse, which has one of its legs... broken???? Whatever it is, it's bound up. Tommy asks Curly what happened with the foot and Curly says that the Lee bastards cursed it. The curse spreads from one foot to the next and will be in his heart by tomorrow. Probably something from bad bedding, many such cases, sad. Tommy pulls out a gun, cocks it and... We see him walking away with a tired look on his face.
He goes to the pub. It's closed. Grace is there. Tommy asks for a drink. He wants some company. She asks about the horse. Ouch. He says he killed it and starts talking about France. There he was used to seeing men die but not horses. He lights their cigarettes. They chat for a bit. She asks for a chance to sing.
He says she's never worked in Dublin. She is caught in a lie and freezes. He thinks she got herself pregnant. She goes along with it and is relieved when he changes the topic. He wants her to sing a sad song. Ada and aunt Pol go to the train when they meet Freddie. He says Tommy tipped him off to take Ada with him. He kneels and offers a ring. What a touching moment. Finally a nice moment. He puts a ring on her finger and they kiss. Even aunt Pol shows some emotions, hugs her and they squee.
He says they will stay here and marry here, not afraid of Tommy. The gang is at the pub, playing cards and drinking beer. Arthur says "fast women and slow horses will ruin your life". Grace sings when someone enters. Lee brothers? Two guys with guns. Billy Kimber. He asks for a Shelby to face him. He takes out a gun and fires a shot in the ceiling. Tommy exits and orders a drink for them. Everyone else is ordered home and they scamper.
Grace serves them glasses and Tommy orders her off. Billy is pissed. Arthur says he's the oldest and Billy starts cussing them. Tommy is unfazed. One of Billy's men (accountant) says there were odd betting patterns at Kempton park on Monaghan Boy. He accuses them of fixing the race and threatens them.
Tommy tosses him the bullet with his name on it and says the Lees are their common enemy. The accountant advises Billy to listen. Tommy lays out the plan: Billy has the muscle, Tommy has the plan. The accountant says they should make plans for a second meeting. Tommy waxes Billy's pole and says it would be an honor to work with him. Billy pulls out a coin and drops it on the floor.
Tommy stoops over and picks it up. Billy says they'll see each other. The accountant says they'll be at Cheltenham. Arthur whines they can't plow with Billy Kimber. Tommy tells him to get a decent haircut — they're going to the races.
Workers slaving away in the factory. Tommy walks amidst them with a cigarette. Good God, the scene is dirty, filled with flame and sparks. No OSHA compliance there. Tommy asks for a bottle of whiskey and three glasses. Grace tries ekeing out more money for the dress. He says he doesn't care; she is dressing up for someone else.
Tommy and the two guys drink. Bottoms up. Tommy asks what is their business. They say it's delicate and concerns the factory. They say guns were stolen. Grace eavesdrop. The guys says it's Peaky Blinders that stole them and would pay good money for the guns. They speak for the people of Ireland. He is reserved. They think he thinks they are jokers.
One of them gets feisty, half stands up and starts singing a song. What? The other guy is nervous and tells him to shut up. Tommy doesn't seem amused. The singing guy is beating his fist on the table, finishes the song and sits down. The nervous guy pushes his friend out. Grace asks what happened. He gives her extra money to buy a red dress; it has to match his handkerchief.
Ada is running down the stairs in a wedding dress. Freddie waits for her and they kiss. They are about to leave. Wow, so charming. He tells her she looks like an angel. They prance off in the distance. Campbell asks about the Black Swan. One of his officers, a sergeant, says it's a place of no concern. Campbell mentions a female operative has shown more utility than he. The officer is offended. They do some light jabs at each other.
A drunk guy staggers out of it. Grace follows him with her immaculate hair and face. No disguise? The guy staggers away and starts pissing when a dog barks him away. Grace follows him to a barn of some sort. The guy reaches for her and pins her to a wall. She slaps him; he slaps her and shouts. He puts a gun to her face and says to take her in for interrogation, she wrestles him and the gun fires. He falls down.
Someone is looking at Grace through a window. Aunt Pol tells Tommy about Freddie and Ada marrying. She says she will deal with it. He wants to know where they are to "send them flowers". He said he promised Freddie will be run out of the town. Aunt Pol is furious. She wants to deal with it. Wow. Tommy threatens dealing with it himself.
Grace is drinking and vomiting in her room. Her hands are shaking. First blood? She looks at the red dress. Campbell is holding the slug that killed the drunk guy as he's listening to the report of him being killed. The sergeant talks about it and mentions someone saw a woman running away, saying it might have been Grace.
He wants a shoot-to-kill order. Campbell dismisses the idea and him. Aunt Pol visits Freddie with £200. Ada realizes the motive. Freddie is indignant and won't do it. Aunt Pol booked them two tickets by boat to New York. Ada seems happy with the idea. Freddie wants to sleep on it. Idiot. Take the money and run.
Grace walks to a museum where she met Campbell before. He basically shouts at her and reprimands her. Oh yes, the guy she killed was one of the two that visited Tommy. She wants to keep going. He is not happy with it. She feels patronized. In the Chinese slums, Tommy walks in. Mr. Zhang tells that suit has been sold. Mr. Kimber walks in.
People scatter immediately. Tommy tells him the Lee brothers will be at the races to rob Mr. Kimber and his bookies. Mr. Kimber tells him to call in his pretty girl. Freddie is giving a speech to his commie friends and tells them to clump together in groups of three. He hears the cop whistles and tells them to raise their hands if they want to strike. They disperse in good spirits.
Tommy hears about the rally and want to know where Ada is. His younger brother tells him that Arthur has the "Flanders blues" again. Tommy enters the church to find Arthur and a bottle next to him. Arthur talks about the recent events and his realization that he's out of the loop. Tommy tries pacifying him and Arthur snaps.
Tommy tells him to come with; he has a surprise. They enter the pub. Tommy tells him the pub is theirs i.e. Arthur's, since that's his biggest wish ever. Arthur is floored and says he'd be lost. Tommy tells him to pour it instead of drinking it but he can still drink. The pub will be used to launder their money.
Tommy approaches his car to see a flat tire. The sergeant steps out of the dark and blames "bloody kids". He says Freddie Thorne is at it again and questions Tommy's leadership. He proposes Tommy turn Freddie in or Ada will be captured for sedition. Ada running down the street.
Someone puts a gun to someone's head. Freddie to Tommy's. What's happening? Ada is in pain, I guess. Grace offers her a drink. Tommy asks him what he wants. Freddie throws down the money and the tickets. Tommy wants to walk away but Freddie won't hear it. He wants to hear about the guns. Tommy tries reminiscing but then kicks the gun out of his hand. Now they have a standoff. Tommy says he won't let Ada fall down with him and that their marriage won't stand.
Tommy enters the home and puts down the money in front of aunt Pol. He says that's where her compassion brought them. She seems unfazed by the turn of events. More nightmares brought by the crack pipe. Claustrophobic. Looks like mining tunnels. Someone is heard digging and whispering near their position.
All hell breaks loose when a guy jumps out of the dirt and starts killing. Tommy wakes up in sweat. Someone is knocking on his door. Danny salutes. He says he was in London, where he heard an IRA man was shot in Birmingham and that the Peaky Blinders did it. Tommy wants a parley with the IRA. Danny mentions the smell of crack. Tommy talks about his nightmares.
Tommy finds a note stating "I will do my duty, Sir". He goes to the pub and Grace talks to him. She tries to get him to open. He must be suspecting something at this point. ??? He stays quiet and changes the subject to the dress. She goes along. We see her primping herself for the show intercut with Tommy doing the same. Slo-mo. They both carry a gun.
Curly and Charlie talk to Tommy as he's starting the car. Charlie cranks it. He picks up Grace. She wonders if it's only the two of them. He says yep. We see Arthur gathering the rest of the gang. Oh, I see. They pick up weapons and tools. Even the boy takes what looks like a machete and nods approvingly. Adorable.
Tommy and Grace sneak in through the back door. He talks her into pretending they're others. They're in. The guests are having a ball. Literally. They dance. Wow, the gall. Billy Kimber and Tommy lock gazes. Billy informs his accountant and they praise Tommy's testicles and Grace's body.
In the bathroom, the Peaky Blinders gang beats up a guy that robbed someone for chalk. Arthur slices off a part of his ear and tells him they're the protection of Billy Kimber now. Arthur loudly proclaims it. Tommy and Grace start going for the door. Arthur brings in bags of cash. He's bloody. Oh, the guy in the bathroom was a Lee gang member. Arthur seems happy with himself.
Tommy elbows through the crowd and tosses the money on Billy Kimber's table. Tommy requests a fair hearing and sits down uninvited. Tommy suggests the Peaky Blinders become his protection. Tommy lights a cigarette and asks for 5% of the revenue plus three legal betting pitches, rising to six after one year of service (I don't get this last part).
Billy tells him to talk to his accountant about business; he wants to dance. With Grace? Yep. She accepts and they sway. Tommy is still sitting at the table. Billy side-glances him. The accountant asks about how many men they can field at any one time. Tommy says two guards for every bookie. Billy Kimber sits down too and wants to add a condition. Uh-oh.
Tommy tells Grace they will go to Billy's place for dinner, though Tommy has to do some work first with the accountant, so she should go ahead alone. UH-OH. He offers three quid extra. She asks if he thinks she's a whore. He says everyone is a whore, we just sell different parts of ourselves. If she wants to prove herself, she has to take one plowing for the team. She is still offended?
Billy tells Tommy to try his luck with Billy's woman, who is an anxious mess. Billy's got two hours with Grace and he bets £10 he can plow her in one. Tommy and Billy's woman sit in a car. She is offended by the arrangement and whines. He ignores her but does praise her hat. He looks at his watch. Meanwhile, Grace considers using her gun. Billy's got her cornered.
Billy puts on the music and tries groping her under the pretense of dancing. She pushes him away. He smashes a glass on the floor and orders her to clean it. She won't. He bends her over the pool table in a way that makes the gun fall out of her reach when Tommy barges in. He tells something about his conscience and that Grace has syphillis. She storms out.
This will be an awkward ride home. Grace calls Tommy a bastard for putting her in this position. She asks why he changed his mind. He doesn't respond.
A boat named Kennet. Ada and Freddie on it. She has a rounded tummy. He caresses it. She got fat? What's the big deal? Freddie talks to a big-nosed dude on the pier who tells him London is crackling with revolution. Freddie gives him a package of £200. The dude is sparkling with joy. Freddie says he got it from the Russian attache in one of the Chinese restaurants.
Tommy's walking down the street. The black doomsday preacher, Jeremiah, scoots over and reports on Ada and Freddie. Tommy tells him to keep spying on them. Tommy sees a cart and enters a random house. Inside the cart, a bunch of people. Inside Tommy's den, the betting operation is in full swing. One guy needs his betting fix but the game's started.
The kid goes out. Aunt Pol senses someone spying on her. It's the kid. She knows he's there but pretends he isn't. OK... Tommy and she go to a family meeting and leave just one guy, Scudboat, protecting the den. He locks up behind them. They exit and the cart starts moving behind them. Lee brothers' gang? Must be. Their speech was titled.
A guy approaches the door and the kid opens up. The guy praises him and the gang walks in, armed to the teeth. They've got guns. Inside, Scudboat is counting money when he hears a noise. The gang barges in and grabs him. One hits him and they search the den. John, the youngest brother, rants about having the handle kids all alone, without Polly.
Tommy is exasperated but aunt Pol shushes him. John says the kids need a mother and says he's getting married. He's already proposed and she said yes. It's Lizzie Stark. All three start chuckling when they hear it. She is a whore but John won't hear about it. He says people change. Tommy snarks. Aunt Pol can barely contain her smile. John wants Tommy's blessing.
They take turns bashing poor John. A kid runs in breathless and says what's happened. They rush out. Scudboat is alive but bruised. He retells what happened. They've taken four cash boxes but left wirecutters. The men realize what's going on. They've rigged something to explode, which they did in France to Germans. They would leave wirecutters as a part of the joke.
He realizes the trap is for him, nobody else. It must be Finn. Tommy walks out and finds Finn in a car, pretending to drive. He didn't open any doors but climbed in. Tommy tells him to slowly climb out the same way but he opens the door, a grenade dorps and Tommy catches it, throwing out in the street, shouting GRENADE. Stupid kid. Nobody is dead. Tommy says to Finn he should never pretend to be him.
Tommy arrives with another guy, who carries a stick with a white cloth. They visit the Lee brothers. The guy says he's got Tommy 10 minutes with her. An ornate door to a wagon is opened and Tommy enters. The woman offers Tommy a Bible, who refuses. He speaks Gypsy and the woman laughs. He takes out a bullet with Billy Kimber's name. The woman is suspicious. Tommy needs strong men to take over the business.
Tommy says he knows 1/3 winners of horse races and brags about his mom being a Gypsy. Oh, that's how he knows their language! Freddie is taking a bath and asks Ada to do his back. She says she knows what was in the envelope (money from the attache). She is fuming but he brushes off her concerns. She is trying to tell him she's got a big belly.
Tommy gets a telegram. It says "40 Bullock Street", with the sender being unknown. Aunt Pol enters and shuts the hatch where Grace could spy. She sits down. He asks if the telegram was her doing. She says yes. Whose address is it? She suggests a strategy. OK...
It's the address of Stanley Chapman, the guy from the pier that got the money. Campbell won't hear about it. Tommy reveals more details about it and taunts Campbell with a medal. Tommy wants his word that Freddie and Ada can leave the city, which he gives. Tommy seems pleased with the deal. What??? Campbell says there's a more pressing matter. Churchill has become impatient and fears he will be replaced if the weapons are not found.
Tommy says he has to finish the deal with Billy Kimber. Campbell seems resigned to his fate but threatens killing Tommy and his family if he's fired. The only one who would be spared is his little brother, Finn. Wait, Finn is his brother??? Anyway, Finn would be raped in prison is what Campbell is saying. Tommy pulls out a gun and aims at Campbell's back but doesn't fire. Tense.
Campbell is again readying a raid. Cops kick in a door and rush in. Families watch from the neighborhood. It's Stanley Champan and they found a book? Seems like it. Campbell says he's plowed. In the station, he discusses matters with his sargeant, who thought Campbell wouldn't break his word to Tommy. Campbell says his mission has become personal and takes a swig of whiskey.
Freddie bringing flowers to a grave. Irene May Thorn, 1863–1915. What an ugly bowl haircut. Aunt Pol is there. She tells Stanley has been taken in in return for safe passage for Freddie and Ada. He now knows Ada tipped them off and gets pissed. She tells him he doesn't have time for it. They chit-chat a bit. Freddie is arrogant but tells Stanley knows nothing about his address and he won't leave. He pushes aunt Pol and she threatens him. Wow.
Campbell comes down to the basement, where the sargeant is Jack Bauering poor Stanley, who is strung between two pillars and bleeding profusely out of his wounds. The sargeant is morally torn for doing this but Campbell shushes him and tells him to throw Stanley down some stairs and call a coroner.
Billy Kimber and his accountant, Mr. Roberts, discuss the effect of Tommy's hiring and are pleased. Tommy knocks on their car door and invites them to come out. They do. He lets them into the Peaky Blinders den, where they're doing a gambling operation.
Tommy brings them to his office and calls in three of his men. Mr. Kimber tells them they can come in to Warwick next Saturday and Mr. Roberts hands Tommy a paper. The two businessmen leave. Tommy silences the crowd and lifts up the paper. It's a legal betting license. The Shelby family has its first legal racetrack pitch.
Arthur is counting money as Grace comes in carrying a case of cigarettes. Lichfield's Tobacco. She opens the case and says they smell rotten. She starts asking awkward questions but he shushes her, saying they smell like Gallipolli. Yikes. He talks about how the Peaky Blinders smuggle contraband. She asks innocent questions and Arthur spills the beans. Wow, dude.
Campbell is circling areas on the map. His goons go out to search the warehouses hinted at by Arthur. They find... some whiskey and tobacco. Tommy confronts Grace about her asking questions. She says she was just trying to help. He takes her for a walk but won't say where to.
They enter a church and sit in a pew. Tommy confesses to needing someone akin to Mr. Kimber's Roberts. She is hesitant. He posits she isn't Catholic — she entered the church without crossing herself. She asks him if he cares. He says no. She says this is an interrogation and tries leaving. He won't let her.
He is suspicious about her washing up where he is. She says she accepts the job. He says there's something else, leans in and smooches her. In a church? Come on, get a room, you two. She says he disappoints her but her appetite for work has only increased. Tomorrow he will show her around.
The next morning, Tommy stops Liz and gives her a ride. He just wants to talk. He appears at peace with her situation. He says he's come to her on many occasions. He asks why Lizzie didn't reveal it. He drops a few hundred pounds (!!!) next to her as a wedding gift and as a bribe so she never speaks of their time but also so they go at it for one last time. Correction, it's EIGHT bloody pounds. Wow.
It was just a test. He tells her to get out of his car. She is about to cry. He says John will make his own decision but he will have the facts. She is livid but did take the money, I think? Campbell again in the art gallery. Meeting Grace? Yep. They chat next to a Greek statue of a man flaunting his caterpillar.
Campbell praises her. She says Arthur is easier to work on. She is underestimating them. She tells him Tommy offered her the position of his secretary. Campbell is stunned and tells her to remember who she is. She is livid and storms out without a farewell.
We see John, the youngest brother, working on his car when Tommy approaches. He wants to take Lizzie on a ride. Tommy relates what happened with Lizzie. John is quiet. Tommy keeps talking. Shut up man, let him have his moment of happiness. John takes the keys and enters the car without a word but then hops out and storms off. Tommy is drinking with Grace. They chink.
She toasts. They are celebrating her employment. He hands her the employment contract. She had the phone put in and a bottle of fine champagne delivered. He tells her to save it. Her first job is to deliver something to Ada. It's an invitation to a family occasion.
She thinks it's a bait for a trap. He says her contract says nothing about asking questions and walks out. Tommy enters the house and hears some noises. He's high-strung. John? Some panting is heard. It is John, trying to smoke opium. He talked to Lizzie, who called Tommy a liar. He spoke to her confidants, who admitted she still sees a couple of regulars. Poor guy, trying to marry a hooker.
Tommy tries to cheer him up. John is smiling through his tears. Come on man, don't do that kind of stuff. Tomorrow, they finish the war with the Lees. The gang is ready with their assorted weapons. They are all staring at John. They move. The lees are there too. Guns galore. The gang pulls out flowers and starts prettying up John with them.
John tries running away but the gang keeps him still. Wow. Tommy grabs him by the neck and shushes him. John is livid. Tommy tells him they need to prevent the war with the Lees right here and now. John is angry but appears calm. Wow, what a backstab by the brother.
John will apparently also get a car. Tey reach the woman. It's an older one, she seems in good order. She looks John up and down and says he will do. That's not the bride? Good God, I hope not. The girl approaches veiled and kneels next to John. Ada approaches too. The girl lifts her veil and John seems happy. She smiles at him.
John has a smug grin and looks back at his gang. Wow. The Lee family is happy too. Freddie didn't want to come. The Gypsy priest cut the palms of the newlyweds, they grab hands and kiss. Joy erupts. It's night and the booze is flowing by the hectoliter. Guns are fired, fireworks explode and everyone is hopping. Aunt Pol tells Tommy to rein Ada, who is drunk as a bat.
John's wife is called Esma. Wow. Ada is feeling bad. Hope she's fine. John is tearing the road with his car. Wow. Esma exits. She is pretty. Ada is giving birth. Really? Aunt Pol asks if Freddie can come and Tommy says yes. Ada is squeezing but it won't come out. Esma says the baby is upside down. She is right. Clever girl.
John wants to go to women but Arthur won't hear about it. He says it's Grace that made Tommy go all soft and forgive so many transgressions. Freddie runs up to the Shelby estate. A babby is cooing and whining. Aunt Pol is melting. Freddie barges in. It's a boy. He clasps his hands and is lovestruck. Quite a painless birth, I believe.
Freddie welcomes the boy to the world. Loud bangs on the door. It's the police. Wow. They bring Freddie out. Wow..... So, Tommy set it up? Incredible. They could have done it much more subtly. Grace asks Tommy if she should open that champagne. She ribs Tommy for what happened to Freddie. Why are you angry, woman? She spits at/near Tommy and calls him a liar. Wow, women can't ever be happy.
Graveyard. Again. Tommy. Daniel Owen's grave. Aunt Pol knocks on the door with fresh food. Ada is inside and won't let her in. Meanwhile, Freddie is getting juiced in the jail. Stilted conversation between Tommy and Aunt Pol. Tommy talks to Grace about her new bookkeeping system. Arthur and John approach a dude organizing boxing matches and ask for a cut.
They find their dad in the ring????!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? He's also called Arthur. We learn Aunt Pol is called Pollyanne. Arthur senior is dining in Tommy's house when he comes in, his voice shaking. Arthur junior tries speaking up for him. Finally some emotion in Tommy's voice. Arthur junior appears like he's about to shout but just storms out.
Arthur wants to take 5 pounds from the register. Grace asks about a "Daniel Owen" in London. That's the guy whose grave we saw at the start of this episode and that was falsely killed. She goes to check the grave. Two Arthurs and the youngest Shelby talk about life. Father was in America, where he saw casinos aka. money factories. He wants to open one in the UK.